Mat



R. J. BELL.

MAT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.1921.

Patenfed Aug. 15, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' R. J. BELL.

MAT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, I921.

' Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- A. A k aw -quar LR: YIIfiIIM/Ifl/IIIIIIIII 305w? Bell To all, whom it may concern-.-

entree stares earanr errace.

' ROBERTJAMES BELL, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

MAT.

'iaeasao.

Application filed June a,

Be it known that I, ROBERT JAMEs. BELL,

a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Mats, of which the following a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relatesto mats; and particularly to mats to be placed at the doors of residences,'public buildings, and on the running boards of automobiles, ships passageways, etc.

These articles are a necessity, but it is well known that their usefulness is of short duration because of wear. A door mat is primarily intended for, removing mud and moisture from the shoes; and for convenience sake it is placed in a vestibule or on a porch where persons entering and leaving the building will walk upon it. In consequence it wears out rapidly. In its nature it must have an upper surface formed of bristles or ribs, and these as usually arranged or constructed wear so quickly that the cost of the mat is out of proportion to its term of use. To overcome this objection mats have been made of sheet or strip metal; but. mats of this material, though useful for removing mud by scraping, injure the material of which the shoe is made.

The object of my invention is to provide a strong and durable mat which shall improve upon the structures heretofore in use.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows one form in which my invention may be embodied. Figure 2 is a cross section. Figure 3 is a slight modification. Figure 4c shows the mat of rectangular form instead of circular; and Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of rib, Figure 6 being a section on line 66 in Figure 5.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2: T provide a mat base of any desired material, such as rubber or fabric. Upon this base ll mount a rubbing surface of peculiar construction. This consists of a series of rings or circular sections 2, each including an elastic core 3, preferably of rubber or rubber composition, and an outer casing 5 made of woven fabric with which is incorporated an elastic substance such'as rubber. The resuiting synthetic article is stifl' and durable. This ring or section may be of any suitable form. For one class of met I use it in a Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d A 15 1921. Serial no. 476,195. I

triangular form, and so set it upon the mat base 1 that the apex 4 bf the triangle shall form the tread or rubbing surface of the mat. For another class of mat which is used more to provide a resilient, durable and non-slipping surface, I prefer that the upper surface of the section or ring be less pointed or abrupt, and more rounded or flat, so that 1t ma present to the foot. of the pedestrian a su ciently even surface. This class of mat is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6; whereas the class of mat having the triangular form is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and-4t.

To lessen the cost of manufacture, in making'the several classes of mat, the section may be made of substantially triangular form, having one acute angle 4, a, less acute and rounded angle 7 and a rounded side 8 ad acent to the rounded angle 7. Then, it

will be noted, by simply changing the position of the section relative to the mat. base 1 I can form both of the types of mats shown in Figures 2 and 6. In making the mat the sectionis placed in a form of suitable shape, and tothe base of the section is applied a cement. Upon the base of the sections so arranged and cemented is laid the base mat, which I prefer to rovide with a thin rubber surface, and t e sections and the base mat are then cured or vulcanized together. The plurality of rings or sections so arranged on the base mat provide a surface of maximum stren h with sufficient resiliency. The mat sur ace need not be made of a series of separate sections or rings as shown inthe figures just described. It ma made of a single length of materia as shown in Figure 3, where the convolutions 9 make up the series of sections 2. Or the section may be arranged to form any other design, geometric or otherwise. Likewise the mat need not'be circular. It may be of rectangular form, as shown in Figure 4: and Figure 5.

Whether the mat be formed with upstanding sections or ribs as shown in Figures 1 to 4, or with flatter sections as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the flexible core 3 and rated with a flexible material and surrounding said flexible core, the ribs forming a series of spaced apart upstanding elements.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto 1 affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT JAMES BELL.

Witnesses:

THoMAs BELL,

F. J. MANHART. 

